The album SINAN ALIMANOVIC INTERNATlONAL BAND – “Lejla” (2020), represents an authentic transcultural web that extends, in the context of the understanding of the contemporary art music, from Sarajevo to New York. This is the seventh album release led by the multi-awardwinning pianist, composer, conductor, arranger and educator Sinan Alimanovic, which, unlike Alimanovic’s previous albums released on the European soil, has been recorded at Trading 8s Recording Studio and published in New York by Miles High Records. The album mostly comprises original compositions by the participants in the project, with the primary focus on the musical pieces created by Sinan Alimanovic. Two additional tracks are jazz standards. The main goal of the bandleader was to give a unied sound, as if all the compositions were written by the same individual although they are, in the historical context, created in dierent time frames,they articulate two dierent geographical climates, they were performed on dierent instrumental and vocalinstrumental formations... And indeed, while listening, you will feel the wholeness and roundness expressed by the universal language of music that connects all dierences listed above in one duration, in real time thatows and is indivisible.

(5% DISCOUNT THRU 8-28-20) Saving a DJ's back is also the motivation for putting two album tracks from Wand Records' greatest singers (and Kent favourites) Maxine Brown and Chuck Jackson onto 45. They cut two LPs together but here they are in the spotlight as solo artists on hugely popular songs from Van McCoy and Luther Dixon respectively.

(5% DISCOUNT THRU 8-28-20) Kent anniversary 45s, which are given out to 6TS 100 Club All-nighter attendees, have always created interest and often sell for good prices. The reception this disc got was unprecedented in the soul world; within days it was up to £100 and presently there is only one copy on the internet at a hopeful £400 - it really is that good a soul dance record. It is the first release from our deal with Mickey Stevenson International and was produced by him in Los Angeles around 1971 when Carolyn was singing as part of Hodges, James, Smith & Crawford for Mickey's M'Pingo label. We have switched the flip from the anniversary 45 and included that group's unreleased dancer 'What Made You Think' - more Stevenson post-Motown magic.

Fritz Schulz-Reichel (July 4, 1912 – February 14, 1990) was a German jazz and pop pianist. Schulz-Reichel’s father was a classical musician, and he began playing piano at the age of six. He developed an unusual technique where he played the melody of a tune with the left hand and the rhythm with the right hand. While he trained to be a concert pianist, he chose a career in pop music, playing light jazz and pop tunes. He invented a device called the Tipsy Wire Box, which could be attached to a piano to make it sound like an out-of-tune barrelhouse upright. (Another interpretation is that “Tipsy Wire Box” was a slang expression for the piano itself, which was merely “detuned”; that is, one of the three strings that make up each note of the main section of the piano is slightly flatted, giving the piano the characteristic sound.) In 1953 he adopted the moniker Schräger Otto (Crazy Otto), and recorded for Deutsche Grammophon. His tunes became hits in Germany, France, England, and America. In 1955, American musician Johnny Maddox played a medley of his songs, entitled “The Crazy Otto Medley”; this went to #2 on the U.S. charts, and in the U.S. both Reichel and Maddox were subsequently known as “Crazy Otto”, to some confusion. Schulz-Reichel continued to perform live and on film, and remained a popular jazz favorite in Germany for many years. “Crazy Otto” is referenced in the song “Ramble on Rose” written by Robert Hunter and performed by the Grateful Dead. “Crazy Otto” was reported among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal Fire.

John Edwards' version of America's 'Tin Man' came out originally as a 45 on Kent in 2002 but sold out and demand has been growing ever since. Those copies now sell for £50-£100 so we have re-released it with the superb, previously LP only, 'We Always Come Back Strong', penned by the great Sam Dees. This release will save many a modern soul DJ from lugging an album box around to gigs.

Mark Egan and Danny Gottlieb, long time band mates and highly acclaimed rhythm section team, have released a Duo recording, Electric Blue. Drawing from their 49 years of playing experience with such luminaries as Pat Metheny, Sting, Gil Evans, John McGlaughlin, Pat Martino, Larry Coryell and many more, Danny and Mark have created a platform to explore and document their highly creative interplay and improvisational stylings within the universe of drums and bass. Listeners of Contemporary Jazz, Ambient Music, Prog Rock, Fusion and Jam Bands will feel at home with this dynamic recording. 180 gram vinyl.

This CD features a chance to hear the great Duke Ellington orchestra performing “live” in two performances at the Hurricane Restaurant in New York City on April 3rd 1943 and in May 1943.

Johnny Iguana toured with Junior Wells and Otis Rush and recorded with Buddy Guy and James Cotton. He's played piano with the best, and this is his first blues album as a leader. Johnny grew up on Erik Satie, Raymond Scott and Mike Watt as much as Otis Spann and Johnny Jones. His own compositions here-with the blues classics and a bevy of Chicago blues greats-inhabit the space of Spann, Sunnyland and Big Maceo but also busting the blues box open with new adventures in soulful surrealism. Ripples of punk, soul, jazz, classical - Johnny has drunk from these waters. But this is a blues album. It's Johnny Iguana's Chicago Spectacular!

This CD features the great Stan Kenton Orchestra performing as it says in the title popular songs in a lighter vein rather than the big concert arrangements that he is known for. This is a cd that is accessible to to a more general audience. Featured instrumentalists are Zoot Sims, Conte Candoli, Charlie Mariano, Lee Konitz, Bill Perkins and Ernie Royal. All of the music is “live” performances from the NBC radio series “All Star Parade Of Bands”.

The house band for radio station KGFJ’s legendary early 1970s Soul Party, Magnum cut a fleeting but memorable swath across the primordial California funk scene. Their only album, released by Philadelphia-based Jamie Records on producer Cal Wade’s Phoenix label, earned an international reputation for its pioneering southern California Latin funk. Vocalist and songwriter Michael Greene’s smooth organ licks meld with his brother Harold Greene’s mellow bass to soothe as it grooves. Magnum’s unique vibe features a full horn section of tight arrangements punctuated by free form improvisation heir roots on live radio and spontaneous performances off the back of a flatbed truck in southern California make them instinctive crowd pleasers whose songs build on an exciting fusion of lyrics, solos and pulsating rhythms. Remastered from the original master tapes, this numbered limited blue-vinyl edition of 1500 LPs commemorates a funky classic that transcends time.

José Rizo, the popular and influential disc jockey who hosts the long-running Jazz On The Latin Side on KKJZ (KJazz 88.1 FM) in Los Angeles is also notable as a bandleader and songwriter. In 2011 he founded Mongorama, a nonet inspired by conguero Mongo Santamaria’s early 1960s band. Their third album, following Mongorama and Baila Que Baila, features flutist Danilo Lozano (the group’s musical director), tenor-saxophonist Justo Almario, violinist Dayren Santamaria, pianist Joe Rotondi, bassist Ross Schodek, Joey De Leon on congas, Alfredo Ortiz on bongo, guiro and chekere, the late timbale master Ramon Banda (whose place is taken by George Ortiz on half of the set), singer James Zavaleta, conguero Joey De Leon, and a few guests including trombonist Francisco Torres who wrote nine of the arrangements and co-wrote five songs with Rizo. Ramon Banda was one of the greatest timbale players in Latin jazz. Mariposas Cantan is his final recording. Banda, who played with Poncho Sanchez for years, recorded with Cal Tjader, and was also a jazz drummer with organist Joey DeFrancesco, recorded six of the selections of Mariposas Cantan before becoming very ill and passing away. His last recorded solo is on the track “Mongorama.” This CD is dedicated to him and it includes Rizo’s “Descarga Ramon Banda,” an exuberant piece performed by the full group plus Francisco Torres as a final farewell. There are many highlights to Mariposas Cantan. Cal Tjader’s “Mambo Mindoro” (which is a little reminiscent of “Afro Blue”) features violinist Santamaria in fine form. Singer James Zavaleta is in the spotlight on the joyful love song “Mariposas Cantan” while “Helen Of Jazz” (a tribute to the late disc jockey Helen Borgers who requested flutist Lozano on this piece) has infectious work from the percussionists and features Lozano’s flute. Zavaleta and flutist Lozano interact on several of the numbers including the playful “Quindimbia” and “East L.A. Meets Napa.” The ever-popular “Watermelon Man” has a strong Almario tenor solo and “A Little Dab’ll Do Ya” finds the group inspired by the warm melody. Add in the excellent singing of Alfredo Ortiz on “Fiesta De Charangueros” and Yoshigei Rizo (the leader’s daughter-in-law) during the ballad “Como Fue” and one has a thoroughly enjoyable set of modern Latin jazz. José Rizo worked for KCSB-FM, and KIST-AM before debuting his long-running (now 30 years) Jazz on the Latin Side program on KKJZ-FM in 1990. Always very interested in Latin music (particularly jazz), Rizo has produced jazz and Latin music festivals, co-founded the Saungu Record label with his wife Leticia V. Rizo, and in 2000 put together the Jazz on the Latin Side All-Stars, a 16-piece star-filled Latin jazz band that has recorded four albums. Nine years later he also began leading Mongorama. The release of Mariposas Cantan, Mongorama’s third and arguably most rewarding recording, is the latest accomplishment in José Rizo’s busy career. It will be enjoyed by Latin jazz fans and salsa dancers.

(5% DISCOUNT THRU 8-28-20) "Pleasure" was the second album the Ohio Players recorded for Westbound and was released in 1972. It was part of the trilogy of albums featuring Joel Brodsky's iconic photography. Their signing to Westbound Records in 1971 precipitated their first major hit with 'Pain' and the album of the same name lodged itself in the R&B album charts for 25 weeks. This success was consolidated when the second single from "Pleasure", 'Funky Worm', would earn the band the first of their five R&B number ones and start them on a three-year run of chart success that saw them become one of the USA's premier acts. Released on regular weight black vinyl in a gatefold sleeve.

(5% DISCOUNT THRU 8-28-20) Most of Helen's early hits can be found on at least one CD. But in "Face The Music" Ace brings you the first-ever compilation to pull together the complete A and B sides of every seven inch single Helen released under her own name between 1967 and 1984, with repertoire drawn from five different labels. "Face The Music" comes to you with the full approval and endorsement of Helen and John, her husband of more than 30 years. A sleeve note featuring a specially conducted 2020 'lockdown' interview with the artist provides Helen's own thoughts on both these recordings and this period in her 40+ year career. All tracks appear here in their original mono and stereo single mixes, just as they were released on 45. Around a third of the titles have never been reissued before, in any format. With a booklet stuffed with the usual plethora of ephemera, labels and rare foreign picture sleeves, it's something no Shapiro fan will want to miss.

1950 proved to be a tempestuous year on June 25th North Korea invaded South Korea, crossing the 38th Parallel. On June 27th U.S. air, naval, and later ground forces supported South Korea and on July 8th General MacArthur Commander-in-Chief of United Nations forces in Korea. On October 21st China invaded Tibet. It was also the year that Senator John McCarthy launched his campaign of unsubstantiated attacks on alleged Communists in the U.S. Government. The U.S. population reaches 150 million and Diners Club introduces the first credit card, however it was a good year for music with Frank Loesser’s “Guys And Dolls” starring Robert Alda, Alan’s Dad, is a Broadway musical landmark. Carol Channing is incandescent in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”. Ethel Merman strikes again in Irving Berlin’s “Call Me, Madam”. On a lighter note “Goodnight Irene” is a two million selling No.1 record, launching The Weavers who bring American folk music to its widest audience ever.

(5% DISCOUNT THRU 8-28-20) "76 In The Shade" follows in the footsteps of Bob Stanley's hugely successful comps for Ace, including "English Weather" and "The Tears Of Technology". It suggests bright yellow sunshine, hot plastic car seats, cats lolloping on the lawn. A few tracks (Smokey Robinson, Cliff Richard, David Ruffin, Carmen McRae) act as necessary splashes of cooling water; most of them sound like it's just too hot to move. Luckily, you don't need to. Available on CD and a 2LP 180g pressing, with deluxe heavy-duty gatefold sleeve, that features a bonus track! (ACE 73 LP2)

For those who prefer to own their music on vinyl, here is an eclectic and gorgeously packaged selection of American girl group artefacts from the 60s. The album opens with 'Whirlwind' by producer Gary Paxton protégées the Rev-Lons, the trio's final recording but also their best, and closes with 'He's All Right With Me' by the Mirettes ( the Ikettes incognito). Other highlights include the Supremes-style 'Cupid's Got A Hold On Me' by the Belles; the Sweethearts' recording of 'Beauty Is Just Skin Deep', a song originally intended for the Ikettes; and 'Summertime Is Surfin' Time' by the Surf Bunnies - three more terrific instances of the West Coast girl group sound. But not all the tracks here emanate from that part of the USA - viz 'Mr Everything' by New York-based Little Eva Harris and little-heard examples from the Pets, Tren-Teens and Lovettes, all from New Jersey. Felice Taylor - here with her unissued-at-the-time 'Sing Me A Love Song' - graces the eye-popping jacket, which houses a colourful inner sleeve featuring a 3,000-word track commentary and an array of illustrations. Compilation and notes by Mick Patrick.

(5% DISCOUNT THRU 8-28-20) (2-LP) "76 In The Shade" follows in the footsteps of Bob Stanley's hugely successful comps for Ace, including "English Weather" and "The Tears Of Technology". It suggests bright yellow sunshine, hot plastic car seats, cats lolloping on the lawn. A few tracks (Smokey Robinson, Cliff Richard, David Ruffin, Carmen McRae) act as necessary splashes of cooling water; most of them sound like it's just too hot to move. Luckily, you don't need to. 2LP 180g pressing, with deluxe heavy-duty gatefold sleeve, that features a bonus track! Also available on CD (ACE 1580 CD)

(5% DISCOUNT THRU 7-31-20) A collection of guitar-wielding all-girl bands, drop-dead female frat rock, garage girls and axe-centric she-pop from the 60s. 14 hot nuggets, each one hand-picked with vinyl lovers in mind. Features a bevy of genuine all-girl bands - namely Goldie & the Gingerbreads from the environs of New York; the Debutantes from Detroit; Florida's the Belles; the Rums & Coke and Girls Take Over, both from Wisconsin; and Ace favourites She from California, all of whom give their male counterparts a good run for their money. The Belles, incidentally, released only one record - a killer rendition of Them's 'Gloria', gender-switched as 'Melvin' - before drifting apart, never dreaming that copies of the disc would one day change hands for $500 a pop. Some of the other girls receive help from male colleagues. Glenda Collins, for example, is backed by producer Joe Meek's favoured house band the Outlaws featuring guitarist Richie Blackmore; Merseyside ex-pat Sandy Edmonds is accompanied by the Pleazers, New Zealand's answer to the Pretty Things; and teenage trio the Chymes are supported by the Turtles. Pressed on 180g transparent violet vinyl, with a swanky inner bag sporting a fact-filled 4,000-word track commentary and an array of rare photos. Compilation and note by Mick Patrick.

(5% DISCOUNT THRU 8-28-20) "Come On Let's Go!", our survey of power pop gems from the 70s and 80s, was one of Ace's best sellers of 2019, with critics lavishing four and five star reviews upon the compilation. However, we grew to rue the lack of the female voice on the CD, with the Shivvers being the sole representative. With that in mind, we now unveil "Girls Go Power Pop!", an entire collection of feminine decks from the 80s and 90s, all delivered with the kind of sassy pizazz you would expect from acts such as the Bangles and the Go-Go's.

(5% DISCOUNT THRU 8-28-20) One of my favourite Spring singles has always been 'I'm The Other Half Of You' by the supremely talented singer/songwriter and producer Ray Godfrey aka Raeford Gerald. When we looked further at the multi-track master tapes of the session, we found a glorious female version, utilising the same backing track, by Maxine Weldon. It is so good it deserves the honour of a Deep Soul release. Many decades earlier, we had found a beautiful Val Simpson and Nick Ashford song by the then unknown Peggy Woods, again such a beautiful recording is deserving of a 45 pressing for collectors.

Teddy Wilson was born in Austin, Texas, on November 24, 1912. He studied piano and violin at Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama. After working in Speed Webb’s band, with Louis Armstrong, and also understudying Earl Hines in Hines’s Grand Terrace Cafe Orchestra, Wilson joined Benny Carter’s Chocolate Dandies in 1933. In 1935, he joined the Benny Goodman Trio (which consisted of Goodman, Wilson and drummer Gene Krupa, later expanded to the Benny Goodman Quartet with the addition of Lionel Hampton). The trio performed during the big band’s intermissions. By joining the trio, Wilson became one of the first black musicians to perform prominently in a racially integrated group. Teddy Wilson Piano Solos is an extremely rare recording of the artist performing “live” at the “Porrhaus” in Vienna on the 30th of November 1976. The music played is all great American songbook with titles by Gershwin, Ellington and Fats Waller and others.